How do I back file my taxes from previous years while still filing for 2024?

You can definitely get caught up on your unfiled tax returns, and it's good you're taking steps to get back into compliance! For back filing taxes, you'll need to prepare separate returns for each year (2021, 2022, and 2023). You can only e-file the 2021-2023 tax years through tax software (like TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) until October 15, 2024. After that, 2021 can only be filed on paper. You'll need your W-2s for each year, plus any other income documents (1099s, etc.) and potential deduction documentation. As for filing 2024 taxes - those aren't due until April 2025 since they cover income earned in 2024. You're actually thinking of filing your 2023 taxes, which are due April 15, 2024. And yes, you can file your 2023 taxes without having completed your 2021 and 2022 returns first. For the best results, I'd recommend filing all your past-due returns as soon as possible to minimize any potential penalties or interest that might be accruing.

This happened to me last year and I was terrified of potential penalties. After researching for hours, I stumbled across taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which literally saved me so much stress when back filing multiple years. Their system helped me organize my documentation for each year and showed me exactly what I needed to file for those previous tax years. What I appreciated most was how they guided me through each year's different tax rules and requirements. Since tax laws change year to year, having a system that understood each year's specific requirements was incredibly helpful. I was worried about making mistakes with the different forms across multiple years, but their AI actually identified a deduction I missed that saved me over $800!

I was super skeptical about using any kind of tax service after getting bad advice in the past, but I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. I'm genuinely shocked at how helpful it was for back filing my taxes! I had unfiled returns for 2021 and 2022, and was completely lost on how to handle the different tax rules for each year. The system actually found a student loan interest deduction from 2021 that I had completely forgotten about, and guided me through claiming a recovery rebate credit I missed. The document organization feature saved me hours of confusion - it helped me sort through which W-2s and 1099s belonged to which tax years and identified everything I needed for each return. My back tax situation is finally resolved and I even got a refund I didn't expect for 2021!

I back filed 3 years of taxes in 2023 and my biggest headache was trying to get someone at the IRS to answer questions about my specific situation. Spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected. Finally, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) which completely changed my approach. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do for each year I needed to back file, clarified which forms I should use, and even explained how penalties would be calculated (which turned out to be less scary than I thought). Having a direct conversation with the IRS about my specific situation made everything so much clearer and gave me confidence I was doing everything correctly.

I need to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. I tried it yesterday after posting my doubtful comment, and I'm completely blown away. After trying to reach the IRS for over a week with no success, I got connected to a real agent in 15 minutes! The IRS representative clarified exactly what I needed to do to back file my 2021-2022 taxes and explained I could still e-file them through certain tax software providers. She also confirmed I don't need to wait to file my 2023 taxes - I can do those now while I'm working on the older returns. I was 100% wrong about this being a scam. It's literally the most useful service I've found in this whole tax nightmare. The time saved was completely worth it, and now I have a clear plan for getting all my back taxes filed correctly.

Something else to keep in mind - if you're owed refunds from those prior years, you only have 3 years from the original due date to claim them. So for 2020 taxes (which were due May 17, 2021), you have until May 17, 2024 to file and claim any refund. For 2021, you have until April 18, 2025. However, if you OWE taxes, there's no time limit for the IRS to collect, and penalties and interest continue to accrue. So definitely prioritize any years where you think you might owe money.

Has anyone here back filed with just the 1040 forms from the IRS website? Or do you really need to use tax software for each specific year? Im trying to save money and wondering if I can just download the forms for each year and fill them out myself.

Just wanted to add something that might help - when you're gathering documents for back filing, make sure to check if you have any 1099s you might have forgotten about. I missed a 1099-INT from a savings account that only had like $12 in interest, but it still needed to be reported. Also, if you can't locate all your documents, you can request wage and income transcripts from the IRS for free through their website or by calling. These transcripts show what income documents were filed under your SSN for each year, which can help you identify any missing paperwork. The good news is that most people in your situation end up getting refunds for the years they didn't file, especially if you had taxes withheld from your paychecks. So don't stress too much - you're likely going to be pleasantly surprised once you get everything sorted out!